Investment and Insurance Strategies For Life

Printed from: www.robertedgin.com

What are some tips for managing my money?

As with virtually all financial matters, the easiest way to be successful with a cash management program is to develop a systematic and disciplined approach. Spending a few minutes each week to maintain your cash management program, can help you keep track of how you spend your money and pursue your financial goals.

Any good cash management system revolves around the four A's — Accounting, Analysis, Allocation, and Adjustment.

Accounting quite simply involves gathering all your relevant financial information together and keeping it close at hand for future reference. Gathering all your financial information — such as income and expenses — and listing it systematically will give you a clear picture of your financial situation.

Analysis boils down to reviewing your financial situation once you have accounted for all your income and expenses. You will almost invariably find yourself with either a shortfall or a surplus. Ideally, you should be spending less than you earn. One of the key elements in analyzing your financial situation is to look for ways to reduce your expenses. This can help to free up cash that can either be invested for the long term or used to pay off fixed debt.

For example, if you were to reduce restaurant expenses or spending on non-essential personal items by $100 per month, you could use this extra money to prepay the principal on your mortgage. On a $130,000 30-year mortgage, this extra $100 per month could enable you to pay it off 10 years early and save you thousands of dollars in interest payments.

Allocation involves determining your financial commitments and priorities and distributing your income accordingly. One of the most important factors in allocation is to distinguish between your real needs and your wants. If you need to reduce your expenses, you may want to start out by cutting back on your discretionary spending. This can help free up cash that can either be invested for the long term or used to pay off fixed debt.

Adjustment involves reviewing your income and expenses periodically and making changes when necessary. Above all, be flexible. Any budget that is too rigid is likely to fail.

Using the four A's is an excellent way to monitor your financial situation to help ensure that you are on the right track to meet your financial goals.

Robert Edgin is a Colorado based multiple line insurance asgent representing American National Insurance Company and American National Property And Casualty Company. Robert Edgin is licensed to sell insurance products in the following states: CO

All products, coverages, and options are not available in all states, and eligibility requirements will apply. Products and services referenced in this website are provided through multiple companies. Each company has financial responsibility only for its own products and services and is not responsible for the products and services provided by the other companies.

Life insurance and annuities are issued through American National Insurance Company, Galveston, Texas.

Personal and commercial lines insurance is issued by American National Property And Casualty Company (ANPAC®), its subsidiaries or affiliates, including American National General Insurance Company, Pacific Property And Casualty Company (California), American National Lloyds Insurance Company (Texas), American National County Mutual Insurance Company (serviced by ANPAC®-Texas), and ANPAC® Louisiana Insurance Company (Louisiana). American National Property And Casualty Company is a subsidiary of American National Insurance Company.

Registered Representative of and securities offered through Securities Management and Research, Inc. (SM&R) Member FINRA/SIPC. Edgin Insurance & Financial Services, the American National Family of Companies, and SM&R are independent entities.

Securities products involve investment risks, are subject to market fluctuations, and the possible loss of principal.

Tax issues that may be discussed are subject to change and this is for your information only. Discussion of such issues does not constitute tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax advisor, attorney or CPA for guidance on all tax matters.

These brief descriptions of coverages available are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended as a statement of contract. For actual terms and conditions of coverage provided, refer to your insurance policy, or, for more information about coverage options and availability, talk to your American National agent and eligibility guidelines apply. American National Family of Companies reserves the right to discontinue programs at any time.

This site may have links to other sites, which are not maintained by American National Insurance Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates. Such links do not imply endorsement or approval of these sites or the content therein by American National, its subsidiaries or affiliates.